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Calibre-Web

COLLAB
Velocity0.0

Web app for browsing and reading a Calibre ebook library

github.com/janeczku/calibre-web ↗

A self-hosted ebook library growing one reader feature and one format at a time.

self-hostedebook-libraryepub-readerkobo-syncmetadata
◆Current state
Calibre-Web is a browser front-end for Calibre libraries, releasing roughly annually under versioned codenames. The recent line has concentrated on three areas: the built-in EPUB and comic readers (themes, font size, page counts, Kepub support, saved reading positions), bulk operations on the book table (multi-edit, delete, archive, mark as read), and metadata handling on upload — including extraction from a dozen audio formats. Kobo sync and OPDS keep receiving targeted fixes.
◆Where it's heading
The project is steadily reducing how often users need to open Calibre itself. Each release moves another desktop-app operation into the browser — bulk edits, metadata backup and merge, multi-format upload with drag and drop — while the reader gains the comfort features that make it a destination rather than a preview. The other constant is compatibility maintenance: Calibre 9 support, Python 3.12, FreeBSD binary paths, and repeated release notes warning that new dependencies must be installed first.
◆Prediction
Expect the next release to continue widening bulk operations and reader polish, with compatibility work tracking whatever upstream Calibre and Python ship. The recurring dependency warnings suggest packaging friction remains unresolved.

◆Recent moves

  1. 6mo ago

    Multi-edit for books, Instapaper in Kobo sync, Calibre 9 support

    Multi-edit in the book list is the clearest step yet in moving bulk work out of desktop Calibre, and Calibre 9 compatibility is the maintenance that keeps the whole thing usable. The reader picks up page-count display, a Books button, and another theme — the incremental polish that shows up in every release here.

    View source ↗
  2. 11mo ago

    Kepub support in the reader plus bulk delete, archive, and mark-as-read

    Kepub support closes a real gap for Kobo users reading in-browser, and the bulk table functions are the direct predecessor of the multi-edit that lands next release. FreeBSD binary paths and Windows EXE dependency checks show how much of this project's effort goes to platform coverage.

    View source ↗
  3. 1y ago

    Audio metadata extraction and multi-format uploads with merge

    Metadata extraction across a dozen audio formats extends the library beyond books, and multi-format upload with progress and metadata merge is the most substantial upload change in this window. Python 3.12 compatibility and an updated pdf.js viewer are the maintenance half.

    View source ↗
  4. 1y ago

    Reader themes and font sizing; requires installing http-Auth first

    Locally stored reader themes and a font-size switch are the start of the reader-comfort thread later releases keep pulling on, alongside sending to multiple Kindle addresses at once. The release notes open with a warning that http-Auth must be installed — the kind of manual upgrade step that recurs across this project.

    View source ↗
  5. 1y ago

    Metadata backup and split library locations supported

    Metadata backup and support for split library locations address the two things that make self-hosting a large Calibre library risky. Applying metadata changes during download and send is a smaller but practical addition, and this release too requires installing new dependencies by hand.

    View source ↗
  6. 2y ago

    Comic reader saves reading position; cb7 metadata supported

    Saved reading position in the comic reader and cb7 metadata extraction extend the same reader-first direction to comics. Cover sizing adapted to Kobo's requested size is one of the many small Kobo fixes that thread through this changelog.

    View source ↗